SafeSport

What is SafeSport?

We all have a role to play in creating a healthy setting in Squash. SafeSport helps raise awareness about misconduct, promote open dialogue, and provide training and resources. By working together, we can build a game plan to make Squash safe―for everyone.

U.S. Center for SafeSport

The U.S. Center for SafeSport, located in Denver, Colorado, opened in March 2017. The Center seeks to enable every athlete to thrive by fostering a national sport culture of respect and safety, on and off the playing field. The Center for SafeSport has jurisdiction over misconduct and abuse for US Squash. For more information on the U.S. Center for SafeSport, click here.

Reporting and Grievance Process

When child sexual abuse, misconduct or policy violations are disclosed, the top priority is to protect athletes and prevent further incidents. Coaches, staff members and volunteers should not attempt to evaluate the credibility or validity of the claim as a condition to take action. Instead, it’s critical that any suspicions or allegations of child physical or sexual abuse are reported to the sport club or appropriate law enforcement authorities. A commitment to reporting, accountability and preparedness can all help organizations and individuals act responsibly in these situations.

The more prepared each member of the sport community is to ask the right questions and take decisive action, the greater the likelihood of the best possible outcome. Each member of the sport community has a different role to play to encourage disclosure:

Clubs

Report suspicions or allegations to appropriate law enforcement authorities

Cooperate fully with inquiries and investigations

Maintain open lines of communication with parents

Coaches

Report suspicions or allegations to appropriate law enforcement authorities

Cooperate fully with inquiries and investigations

Encourage disclosure among athletes

Parents

Communicate with clubs and coaches

Understand the reporting process

Monitor your child for sudden changes in behavior

Players

Know what misconduct is and how to report

Understand resources available to them

Use available resources

How to report an incident?

To report an incident involving Sexual Misconduct, please visit this link. The Center handles ALL reports of sexual abuse within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Make a report to the Center if you have a reasonable suspicion of sexual misconduct such as child sex abuse, non-consensual sexual conduct, sexual harassment or intimate relationships involving an imbalance of power.

To report an incident regarding other forms of misconduct such as emotional or physical misconduct, bullying, hazing or harassment, please contact safesport@ussquash.com.

Reporting may be made anonymously, and that no direct fees or other cost is involved in making a report. You may report anonymously to SafeSport for Sexual Misconduct. For Non-Sexual Misconduct incidents, you may report anonymously to US Squash via this link.

24-Hour Victim Services Helpline

The helpline offers confidential support services and is operated in partnership with RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. If you or anyone else you know needs assistance immediately, you can access help immediately in two ways:

Awareness and SafeSport Training

US Squash has a detailed Abuse, Harassment, Bullying, and Hazing Policy. To view this policy, click here.

SafeSport Training

Administrators, Coaches, Parents, and Players can all learn more through SafeSport Training, available online for free. To take the course, please follow the steps outlined below:

1. Visit this link: https://safesport.org/authentication/register?token=f22e81e7-ae96-4ab4-b210-243631d426b8
2. Enter in this Access Code: TJY2-RYC5-V9QE-ALDJ
3. Create and confirm your account with the U.S. Center for SafeSport
4. Take the three thirty-minute SafeSport Modules
– This can be done in one or separate sessions and each module saves your progress along the way
– You will receive a certificate for each module you complete
– You can access an additional fourth certificate stating you are “SafeSport Trained” when you complete all modules from your SafeSport Profile
5. Once you’ve completed all modules, to complete and verify your SafeSport Certification, please send the final SafeSport Trained certificate to safesport@ussquash.com6. You will receive a confirmation email from US Squash to then confirm you have been verified, eligible, and approved to work for or with US Squash

US Squash Contact

Signs of Abuse

Signs of abuse may be displayed, but are not limited to, the following ways:

Losing enthusiasm for sport, even for competition.

Not wanting to practice.

Wanting to avoid contact with a particular individual – such as a coach, assistant coach, or athletic trainer.

Having a sudden mood change, such as a violent emotional outburst.

Wanting to change teams, even though his or her friends are on their current team

Game Plan

We each have our role to play in getting a game plan together:

Clubs

Clubs can build their plan by identifying their risks and create their strategy by following SafeSport principles.

Coaches

Coaches can help by knowing what to watch for, enforcing policies and procedures put forth by clubs, and taking SafeSport training online.

Parents

A parent’s role is to help verify plans in place and evaluate the effectiveness of a club’s plan and also implementation of the plan by their staff or coaches. Additionally, parents can talk to their athletes regularly to help monitor behavior changes and support their development overall. Below you will find additional resources for parents.

For players, knowing what misconduct is, how to report misconduct, and what resources are available to them are vitally important. Confidential resources and support are available, as well as instructions on how to report misconduct.

Federal Law

Federal legislation – the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act – sets minimum standards for defining child abuse and neglect for those States that accept federal funding. According to the Child Information Gateway, the minimum acts constituting child abuse and neglect are defined as:

“Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, ” or

“An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.”

State Law

Although federal legislation sets the minimum standards for defining child abuse and neglect, the definitions of child abuse and neglect vary by State.